Rack for photographic films and the like



Nov` 28, 1939. l. c. RINN I RACK FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS AND THE LIKE Filed Deo. 30, 1938 I bq,"

Patented Nov. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RACK FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS AND THE LIKE Irwin c. Rinnchieege, 111.

Application December so, 193s,`serie1Ne. 248,424

16 Claims. (Cl. 95-100) This invention relates to improvements in will engage the edges of the lm under the deracks for photographic lms. More particularly, sired spring pressure, and so that the parts may it has to do with racks for supporting individual be readily manipulated by the thumb and finger photographic films of relatively small size, such as above explained.

n as are used for dental X-ray work, but the fea- A further object of the invention is to so artures of the invention are not limited to this or range the rack that theindividual films will be any other particular use. Generally it may be retained against any sliding or displacing movestated that the rack herein disclosed is so arment lengthwise f the Tack, S0 that the films ranged that the nlrns are individually supported will be retained from any interference with each therein, and substantially without Contact with other. Such retaining means is also Stamped 0r the rack itself except along the edges of the nlm, cut out from the blank from which the rack is the faces of the film being entirely clear from any made, and then properly formed into shape. Contact with the rack itself, 1t is a further object to provide a rack which One object of the invention is to provide a form may be mdeWitl'l any number Of Cells 0I DOCketS of rack which may be used for supporting the fr the individual films, 0T With a Single Cell Or films during the developing and/or fixing opera- POCket. When made with more than one such tions, and also for supporting the lms after the Cell 01 lUOket,l Said Cells 0I pOCketS are lated in developing and Washing Operations have been alignment with each other, in the form of an completed, and during the drying interval, The elongated rack member, having a width substan- 90 individual films when once set into place in the tally equal t0 the lateral dimenSiOn 0f a ilm, rack need not be removed therefrom until the and a length dependent 0n the number for lms developing, fixing and washing operations neve to be carried. It is a further object to provide a been Completed, and in feel, until the drying en hanger or handle at one end of the rack whereby eration has also been completed. This will make it may be readily manipulated, SllCh ,hanger alSO unnecessary the removal of the fllms from the constituting a portion of the sheet from which rack While they are still wet, and when the emulthe Tack blank S Cllt- S11-Ch hanger 0I handle sien is in e, soft condition The films may thus constitutes a convenient element whereby the be removed after they have dried se that they lled rack may be held in place within a vertical are in proper condition for handling. developing 0r Xine 0r Washing bath vessel, by 3 Another object of the invention isv to provide Simply hOOkng the handle Over the edge therea rack of such construction that the engagement 0f; and alSO constitutes a COIlVenient means of the nlms is entirely along the opposite edges whereby the rack with the contained films may be and under a slight pressure, so that the films are hung 11D during the nlm drying Operations. securely held. In this connection, it is a further It may also be mentOned that the rack herein object to so form the rack that the lms may be diSClOSeCl iS'VeIY Well adapted fOl SuppOrting the readily and individually released from the rack lms Withina bath of solution which is of such a by merely pressing together a pair of lugs or nnature that the developing and xing operations ger pieces which are properly placed for convenarev simultaneously performed, so that only a, ient manipulation by the thumb and a finger single bath treatment is needed. Such solution of a single hand. Still more particularly, it is an constitutes` no portion of the present invention, Object t0 S0 arrange the foregoing parts that each but due to the fact that it is relatively expensive film may be individually manipulated, both durit is desirable to use the same in connection with ing insertion and also during removal from the equipment of such construction that the bath rack, the individual nlm supports in a multiple material and solution may be most economically rack having individual means for manipulating used; and the racks of the present invention, bethe holding jaws or clamps. ing elongated in form, are well adapted for ver- In connection with the foregoing it is an object tical support within a tall container of generally to so design the rack that it may be made from cylindrical formi, and lof relatively small volume sheet metal or other material, cut or stamped out considering the number of films being simultainto the form of a blank and bent into the proper neously treated therein.

form, thereby forming the rack at a minimum Other objects and uses of the invention will apof cost and maximum of simplicity. In connec- Deal' from a detailed description of the same, tion 'with the foregoing, the metal used for the which consists in the features of construction stamping operations may be of slightly springy and combinations of parts hereinafter described quality so that the film engaging clamps or jaws and claimed.-V

In the drawing':

Figure 1 shows a vertical section through a convenient form of cylindrical container havin-g the rack of the present invention set down therein, and with the hook placed over the upper edge of the top of the container;

Figure 2 shows a face View of the rack itself removed from the container;

Figure 3 shows a side or edge view corresponding to Figure 2;

Figure l shows a top or plan view corresponding to Figures 2 and 3, and also shows the manner of engagement of the iilm edges; and

Figure shows a cross-section on the line 5-5 of Figures 2 and 3 looking in the directions of the arrows, and it shows by dotted lines the manner in which the finger pieces may be bent towards together to thereby release the edges of the lm or to permit insertion of the film into place.

Referring rst to Figure l, the rack in its entirety is designated by the numeral I0. This rack has a hooked handle at its upper end, designated H, which may be set over the upper edge l2 of the container, so as to hold the rack in proper vertical position; and said handle H also constitutes a convenient means whereby the rack may be handled during insertion or removal from the container, and for other purposes; The container is conveniently made of generally circular cylindrical form, and since the rack itself is of generally curved cross-section it will conform to the curvature of the container wall when set into place in the container; and in fact two such racks with their films may be readily set into place Within a common container and facing each other. It will thus be seen that the racks herein disclosed are of such form that they readily lend themselves to use during the developing and/or xing or washing operations with a maximum of economy of space, so that a minimum amount of the solution is needed for the operations.

Referring to Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, the rack itself comprises a sheet of suitable material stamped or cut and formed to provide the handle ll, together with one or more individual film cells or pockets, such as i3, ld, etc., extending in vertical alignment as shown. Each of these cells or pockets has the side edge portions I5 and I6, which have their extreme edges I'I recurved or so bent as to form hooked portions to engage the edges of the lm and hold the film securely in place with a slight amount of lateral pressure thereagainst. The cells are of curved form as shown in Figures 4 and 5, and the distance between the edge portions I5 and l 6 is such that when a lm is in place said lm may be rmly gripped, and will be deflected into a generally curved form but without Contact of the face of the lm with the body portion of the rack between the film edges. In other words, the curved distance around the body of the rack from one edge l5 to the other edge l5 is slightly greater than the actual distance between the Opposite edges of the film to be gripped, but the straight cord distance between the two rack edges l5 and it is slightly less than the distance between the opposite edges of the lm to be gripped; so that when the lm is in place and the springy action of the rack is permitted to grip the lm, the lm will be gripped and curved as shown, but with a less curvature than that of the body of the rack, so that there is no actual bodily contact between the film and the rack.

By reason of this relationship it follows that the film support is entirely against the edges of the lm, and without face contact therewith.

In order to still further ensure against any bodily contact between the face of the lm and the body of the rack, and also to improve the springy action of the rack edges l5 and I6, I prefer to cut out the central portion of each film cell or pocket as shown at i8. The amount of metal thus left at the position of each cell or pocket is reduced to a minimum, the rack is greatly lightened, and the danger of face contact with the lrns is greatly lessened during the operations of setting the ilms into place in the rack and removal therefrom.

I also prefer to cut away the metal of the sheet at the positions I9 and Zl between the edge portions of consecutive film cells and at both sides of the rack, such so cut away portions, however, not extending completely across the rack, so that the consecutive cells are joined together as shown at 2l in Figures 2 and 3. In other words, the cut-away portions I9 and 20 only extend about half way across the width of the rack, leaving the central portions uncut, so that the continuity of the rack body is not impaired.

The material cut from the slotted portions I9 and 2i) (being in the form of a pair of narrow prongs 22 and 23), is bent back over the front face of the uncut portion 2l, such so bent prongs being also curved so that they stand out from the face of the portion 2l, as well shown in Figures 4 and 5 in particular. The distance between the prongs 22 and 23 at the top and bottom of each cell or pocket is substantially equal to the vertical dimension of the film to be supported within the cell, and the extension of these prongs outwardly from the face of the connecting portion 2l is such that edge support is provided for the films in the adjoining cells or pockets; and thus, also, the films are prevented from displacement lengthwise of the rack and are retained within their individual pockets and are prevented from interference with each other. When the slots i9 and 2l) are carried substantially one-half way across the width of the rack, as shown, and when the so formed prongs 22 and 23 are bent into the form shown in Figures l and 5, it will be seen that the ends of the prongs come substantially together and thus form a substantially continuous `narrow projecting ledge or lm edge support between the edges of the consecutive lms, and also serve to avoid the presence of objectionable sharp ends (of the prongs) which might become contacted by the faces of the films during the film insertion and removal operations.

It will also be noted that by the slotting of the body portion of the rack to form the slots i9 and 20, the edge portions ld and l5 are individualized so that the exing and positioning of the edges of each cell or pocket is made independent of that of the adjoining cells or pockets. Thereby there is assurance that the edges of each film will be gripped individually and according to the exact requirements of such film; but in addition thereto, it will be noted that by flexing the edge portions of a given cell or pocket the lm of such pocket may be inserted or removed without interfering with the films in the adjoining cells or pockets. Thereby a double purpose and function is produced.

The material out or released from the body opening 2l of each cell or pocket is in the form of two wings 24 and 25, each comprising one half the width of such opening 2l; and these two wings are bent backwardly as shown in Figures 4 and 5 to form the finger pieces which may be manipulated for flexing the edge portions I5 and I6. These Wings are preferably bent at an angle of substantially thirty degrees to the transverse axis, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, so that they occupy a position which is convenient for manipulation, and also so that they will reach laterally with respect to the edges I5 and I6 to a position Where they can be readily manipulated.

Now it will be seen that the normal elasticity of the edge portions of the cells or pockets is such that they occupy the positions to grip the film edges, but that by compressing the wings 24 and 25 towards each other said edge portions are caused to shift apart from each other, with 'consequent increase of the distance between them so that the iilm may be readily inserted or removed; and further that such operation in the case of any individual cell or pocket does not interfere with the holding grip of the adjoining cells or pockets on their respective films.

It is noted that the curvature of the body portion of the rack, well evident in Figures 4 and 5 serves to give a longitudinal rigidity to the device so that it will not readily bend or become distorted transversely. This is an important feature especially in the case of a rack having considerable length, as for example, in a rack having five or six cells or pockets,

It wlll be noted that the hook of the handle I2 extends outwardly at the convex side of the curvature of the body portion, so that when the rack is set down into a round cylindrical container with the convex side of the body towards the wall of the container the hook will properly reach out over the wall of the container to engage said wall. In such condition two such racks with their contained films may be readily set down into the cylindrical container, of given size, thus virtually doubling the capacity of the container.

The rack may be made of any suitable material, but preferably sheet metal of springy nature is used since it may be readily cut into the proper form, and when so cut will have the desired springiness. Or, if desirable, the rack may be made by assembling operations and of wire.

It is noted that the central vertical axis of the complete rack resembles a backbone with the radiating arms constituting a series of ribs to which the edge portions I4 and I5 are connected.

Normally the depth of the container within which the rack is set during developing and/or xing and washing operations should be such that the rack will be actually suspended by the hook portion of the handle I2. In case it should be desired to stand the rack on the floor of the container, a foot or pedestal 26 may be formed on the lower end of the backbone portion, constituting a portion of the metal of which the rack is formed.

While I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of the features of my present invention, still I do not intend to limit myself thereto, except as I may do so in the claims to follow.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a rack for individual iilms and the like, comprising a sheet of springy metal cut and formed to provide a series of aligned film cells or pockets each comprising a substantially rectangular open bodied cell section having its sides provided with parallel edge grooves to receive the opposite edges of a ilm section, and each cell section having the metal cut from its open body portion folded backwardly along the positions of the sides of such cell section to provide wings for actuation by the iingers of a hand to deflect the edge portions of the cell outwardly from each other against the spring action of the metal, the sheet metal of the rack being cut inwardly from each side at points intermediate between the consecutive cells with central uncut portions constituting connections between the consecutive cells, and the metal of such inwardly cut portions being folded over the faces of the said connections to constitute top and bottom film supports between the cells, the rack being curved transversely along its length to provide a channel shaped device, whereby the lateral portions of the consecutive cells or pockets may be individually deflected without interference with the lateral portions of adjacent cells and by compression of the wings of a given cell or pocket towards each other, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a rack for individual lms and the like, comprising a sheet of springy metal cut and formed. to provide a series ofA aligned film cells or pockets each comprising a substantially rectangular open bodied cell section having its sides provided with parallel edge grooves to receive the opposite edges of a lm section, and each cell section having the metal cut from its open body portion divided and folded backwardly from the two edge portions of such cell section to thereby establish a pair of wings connected to such edge portions, the sheet metal of the rack being cut inwardly from the sides thereof at points intermediate between the cell sections to thereby disconnect the edge portions oi the cell sections from each other, and with the central portions of the cell sections adjoining each other connected together, the rack being curved transversely along its length with the wings at the convex side of such curvature, whereby the side portions of individual cells may be deflected away from each other by pressure on the Wings thereof, to thereby permit insertion into or removal from such cell sections of the individual films, substantially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a rack for individual films and the like, comprising a series of ilm cells or pockets, each of generally rectan gular form and having its side edges provided with facing grooves for accommodation of the opposite edge portions of films to grip the same, said cells or pockets being of springy material whereby the said edge portions tend to spring towards each other for lm engagement and holding, backwardly extending wings on the edge portions aforesaid adapted for gripping engagement by the fingers of a users hand, whereby compression of said wings towards each other serves to cause the edge portions to move away from each other for lm insertion or removal into or from the cell, the rack being curved transversely and along its length, whereby the rack is stiffened, and whereby when iilms are gripped within the cells or pockets they may be gripped exclusively by engagement with their edge portions and without bodily contact against the body portion of the rack, substantially as described.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a rack for individual films and the like, comprising a series of film cells or pockets, each of generally rectangular form and having its side edges provided with facing grooves for accomodation of the opposite edges of films to grip the same, said cells or pockets being of springy material whereby the said edge portions tend to spring towards each other for lm engagement and holding, backwardly extending wings connected to the said edge portions in position for compressing engagement by the ngers of a hand to thereby deflect the said edge portions away from each other for lm insertion or removal into or from the cell or pocket, together with connections between the consecutive cells or pockets located along the central axis of the rack, the rack` being curved transversely and alone its length, substantially as described.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a rack for individual films and the like, comprising a series of lm cells or pockets, each of generally rectangular form and having its side edges provided with facing grooves for accommodation of the opposite edges of films to grip the same, said cells or pockets being of springy material whereby said edge portions tend to spring towards each other for film engagement and holding, backwardly ex-l tending wings connected to the said edge portions in position for compressing engagement by lingers oi a to thereby deflect the said edge portions away from each other for film insertion or removal into or from the cell or pocket, together with connection between the consecutive cells or pockets located along the central axis of the rack, substantially as described.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a rack for individual films and the like, comprising a series of film cells or pockets in alignment with each other and each of generally rectangular form and all of the cells or pockets being curved transversely of the length of raclr and with their convex sides all at the same side of the series, the lateral edge portions of the cells or pockets being grooved with the grooves facing each other and all at the concave side oi the device, wings eX- tending backwardly from the edge portions of the individual cells or pockets and in position for pressing engagement by the fingers of the hand to thereby deflect the said edge portions away from each other for lm insertion into or removal from the cell, together with connections between the consecutive cells or pockets and located along the central longitudinal of the rack, substantially as described.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a rack ior individual lms and the like, comprising an elongated structure in the form of a series of nlm cells or pockets each of generally rectangular form and with all the cells or pockets curved transversely of the rack with the convex sides of the curves all at one side of the rack, the consecutive cells or pockets being connected to each other exclusively along relatively narrow points of joinder located inwardly from the edges of said cells or pockets, the edge portions of the cells or pockets being grooved inwardly to receive the edge portions of the nlrns placed in said cells or pockets, together with baclcwal'dly extending wings connected to the said edge portions, substantially as described.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a rack for individual films and 'the like, comprising an elongated structure in the form of a series of individual nlm cells or pockets, each of generally rectangular form and curved transversely of the rack, facing grooves along the side edges of the cells adapted to receive the edge portions of lms set therein, the cells being of springy material to thereby grip the side edges of the films with spring pressure, the curved length of a cell between the said grooves being slightly more than the distance between the proximate edge of the gripped film, whereby the so gripped nlm is held under spring pressure and with the body portion of the film away from the body portion of the pocket or cell, together with backwardly eX- tending wings connected to the edge portions ol the cells, and adapted for compressing towards each other by the lingers of a hand, substantially as described.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a rack 4for individual lrns and the like, comprising an elongated structure in the form of a series of individual film cells or pockets, each of generally rectangular form and curved transversely of the rack, facing grooves along the side edges of the cells adapted to receive the edge portions of lms set therein, the cells being of springy material to thereby grip the side edges of the lms with spring pressure, the curved length of a cell between the said grooves being slightly more than the distance between the proximate edges of the gripped nlm, whereby the so gripped film is held under spring pressure and with the body portion of the lm away from the body portion of the pocket or cell, substantially as described.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a rack for individual lms and the like, comprising an elongated structure in the form of a series of individual iilm cells or pockets, each of generally rectangular form and curved transversely of the rack, there being facing lm edge engaging grooves along the outer edges of the said cells or pockets, and means to join the central portions of the upper and lower edges of the consecutive cells or pockets together, the curved distance between the grooves of a cell or pocket being slightly more than the distance between the engaged edges of the film therein, whereby the lm is held within the cell or pocket under spring pressure and with its body portion away from engagement with the body portion of the cell or pocket, substantially as described.

ll. As a new article of manufacture, a rack for individual ilms and the like, comprising a nlm holding cell or pocket, curved to bring its body portion laterally away from the opposite edge portions of such cell or pocket, there being facing grooves on said edge portions to grip a nlm therebetween, the material of such cell or pocket being springy, and the distance between said grooves being slightly more, measured along the curve of the body, than the distance between the so gripped edge portions of the film whereby the nlm is gripped and held with its body portion away from the body portion of the cell or pocket, substantially as described.

l2. As a new article of manufacture, a rack for a series of individual films to be developed or fixed or washed in a bath contained within a vertical cylindrical container, comprising an elongated member of transversely curved form to generally conform to the curvature of said container, said elongated member having a series of individual cells or pockets for lm accommodation, each such cell or pocket having its opposite side edges provided with facing grooves for accommodation of the edges of a film, the edge portions of the individual cells or pockets being independent of each other, and the curved distance between the grooves of a cell or pocket being slightly more than the distance between the so gripped edges of the iilm, whereby the films are gripped with their body portions out of engagement with the body portions of the cells or pockets, substantially as described.

13. Means to treat a series of lrns to a liquid solution, comprising a cylindrical vertical con.- tainer for the said solution, and a rack extending vertically within the container, and being of transversely curved form with its convex side adjacent to the wall of the container, said rack having means to support 'the individual films out of engagement with each other, substantially as described.

14. Means to treat a series of films to a liquid solution, comprising a container having a vertical wall, and adapted to contain said solution, and a rack extending vertically within said container and adjacent to the said wall, said rack being curved transversely with the curvature thereof adjacent to the wall aforesaid, and said rack being provided with a series of individual lrn cells or pockets, substantially as described.

l5. Means to treat a series of iilins to a liquid solution, comprising a vertically elongated container for the liquid and having a curved wall, together with a vertically extending rack within said container and being of generally curved form to conform with the curvature of the wall of the container, and said rack having a series of individual film cells or pockets in vertical alignment, whereby the lrns accommodated in said cells or pockets are subjected to treatment within a container having a relatively small volurne of solution for a given number and size of the films being treated, substantially as described.

16. As a new article of manufacture, means to support a lrn to be treated to a liquid solution or the like, comprising a cell or pocket of generally rectangular form and of springy material', said device being curved into generally cylindrical form, and having facing grooves along its oposite side edges for accommodation of the opposite edges of a lrn to be held therein, together with a lm held in place in said support, and having its opposite edges inserted into the grooves aforesaid, said lm being of distance between said edges slightly less than the curved distance between the grooves, whereby the lm is held in place with its body portion out of engagement with the body portion of the cell or pocket, substantially as described.

IRWIN C. RINN. 

